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Chapter 24 — The Natural History of the Selenites
Andupanddownthespiralgallerieswerescatterednumerousmoonpeople,pallid,faintlyluminousbeings,regardingourappearanceorbusiedonunknownerrands.
“EitherIfancieditoraflakeofsnowcamedriftingdownontheicybreeze.Andthen,fallinglikeasnowflake,alittlefigure,alittleman-insect,clingingtoaparachute,drovedownveryswiftlytowardsthecentralplacesofthemoon.
“Thebig-headedSelenitesittingbesideme,seeingmemovemyheadwiththegestureofonewhosaw,pointedwithhistrunk-like‘hand’andindicatedasortofjettycomingintosightveryfarbelow:alittlelanding-stage,asitwere,hangingintothevoid.Asitsweptuptowardsusourpacediminishedveryrapidly,andinafewmoments,asitseemed,wewereabreastofit,andatrest.Amooring-ropewasflungandgrasped,andIfoundmyselfpulleddowntoalevelwithagreatcrowdofSelenites,whojostledtoseeme.
“Itwasanincrediblecrowd.Suddenlyandviolentlytherewasforceduponmyattentionthevastamountofdifferencethereisamongstthesebeingsofthemoon.
“Indeed,thereseemednottwoalikeinallthatjostlingmultitude.Theydifferedinshape,theydifferedinsize,theyrangallthehorriblechangesonthethemeofSeleniteform!Somebulgedandoverhung,someranaboutamongthefeetoftheirfellows.
